Trekkers, travelers, and mountaineers from around the world, they know that Nepal is their dream destination. The EBC Gokyo Chola pass trek incorporates two amazing viewpoints: Everest Base Camp Kalapathar and Gokyo Ri. Along with these, you can see the stunning Himalayan ranges, phenomenal culture and traditions of Sherpas, fluctuating landscapes, etc during the trek.
Being a wondrous trekking destination, there are hundreds of trekkers who go trekking to EBC Gokyo valley every year. You will be trekking through Sagarmatha National Park. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage site in Nepal. The park conserves several ecosystems, flora, fauna, and also some of the endangered species.
The trek begins in Kathmandu and makes a round trip through Lukla, Namche Bazaar, Everest Base Camp, Gokyo valley, Namche Bazaar, Lukla, and back to Kathmandu. The entire journey is refreshing. The trek surrounds tranquil valleys, majestic Gokyo lakes, enthralling glaciers like Ngozumpa, the biggest.
The range of highest snow peaks like Mount Everest (8848m), Mt Lhotse (8516m), Mt Makalu (8485m), and Cho-Oyu (8201 m) collaborating with several others like Nuptse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Pumori and Khumbutse, they look stunning!
EBC Gokyo via Chola pass trek is once a lifetime trek. To those who seek more adventure than only the Everest Base Camp, you might find this interesting. Have a look at the Gokyo lakes and Everest base camp itinerary.
If you have any queries regarding trekking and touring in Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan, feel free to contact us. We will respond to you as soon as possible.
Highlights of EBC Chola Pass Gokyo Trek
- Everest Base Camp
- Kalapathar, the best viewpoint of Mt. Everest
- Cho La pass
- Sunrise view from Gokyo Ri
- The turquoise blue Gokyo lakes
- The dramatic Himalayas and their jaw-dropping panoramas
- Unique Sherpa settlements
- Tradition, culture, and lifestyle in Everest
Best Time for Everest Base Camp Cho La Gokyo Trek
Autumn is famous for its weather stability and perfect visibility. This is the reason why Autumn is the best time for Everest Base Camp Chola Gokyo trek. After Autumn, Spring is the second-best season. During Spring also, the weather conditions at the highest altitudes on the trek remain fairly good.
Winter and Summer aren’t a good time to trek. Summer brings monsoon rain, insects, bugs, black clouds, slippery trails, and many other difficulties. Winter is the coldest time. During this time, the high pass, Cho La might be closed for trekking because of heavy snowfalls, blizzards, and other winter hazards.
Trek Difficulties During EBC Chola Pass Gokyo Trek
- Altitude is a major difficulty when you are trekking to 5555 meters. Be careful! Take safety precautions and tips that’ll help prevent Altitude sickness.
- Tough trails. Walking through steep uphills with iced rocks, it’s definitely tougher than you think. Walking along the glaciers and glacial moraines is difficult. Boost your endurance. Walk carefully.
- Basic accommodation and food. At the higher altitudes, the teahouses and lodges are very basic. You should expect a very basic service before you go there.
- Walking for long durations continuously can be difficult. Practice hiking and other exercise starting a few months before you go.
- You can never be sure about the weather. Weather can turn worse at any time. And trekking in difficult weather is more than hard.
Detailed Itinerary of Everest Base Camp Cho La Pass Gokyo Lake Trek
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu
Today is your first day in Nepal. The international flight lands at the Tribhuvan International airport in Kathmandu. Come out of the airport, you’ll see our representative holding a board on their hand.
S/he will drive you to your hotel in Kathmandu in a private vehicle. Take some rest in your room. You can walk around in the evening if you want to. Overnight in Kathmandu.
Day 02: Kathmandu City Tour
Do you know? Kathmandu is a beautiful city known cultural heritages. There are many heritage sites that have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites. So, day two is a Kathmandu city tour day.
For the tour, you will have a private vehicle and a guide. You will be visiting some popular sites like Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, Boudhanath Stupa, Swoyambhunath Temple, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, and Changunarayan Temple.
Overnight in Kathmandu.
Day 03: Flight to Lukla and trek to Phakding
Maximum Altitude: 2700 meters
Flight Duration: 45 minutes
Trek duration: 3 to 4 hours
Get ready to fly to Lukla. In an early morning flight from the domestic terminal of Kathmandu airport, we will get on a flight to Lukla. The flight is highly scenic. You will see incredible aerial views of the Kathmandu valley, green hills, rolling rivers, amazing terraces, and incredible Himalayan range ahead of us.
Landing in Lukla is a thrilling experience. You will feel your heart shaking as the plane lands. After landing in Lukla, we will begin to trek. Our destination for the first day is Phakding.
The trail from Lukla to Phakding is an easy trail. The altitude also decreases from Lukla to Phakding. The trail is a flat downhill trail that passes along the riverbank of Dudh Kosi.
Day 04: Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3440 meters)
Maximum Altitude: 3440 meters
Trek Duration: 7 to 8 hours
The trail is difficult than yesterday. From Phakding, you will be trekking to Namche Bazar via some beautiful villages like Monjo, Jorsale, and others. Walking through these villages, you can observe the way of life, traditions, and culture at the villages.
At the Sagarmatha National park entry point in Monjo village, we will obtain the Sagarmatha National Park entry permits. Trekking to Namche is exciting. You will cross the same Dudh Kosi river several times over thrilling suspension bridges. Crossing the famous Hilary suspension bridge is also a part of today’s trek.
Before Namche, there is a tough ascent. Be careful while walking. The trail is rugged and dust. Beware of the loaded donkeys and Yaks. Wait on a safe place until they pass. You must know this “they don’t mind pushing you off the cliffs”.
Overnight in Namche.
Day 05: Rest in Namche (3440 meters)
It’s a rest day. But you cannot keep resting all day in your hotel room. You will be doing short acclimatization hikes. For acclimatization, you have several options. You can visit the Everest View Hotel, Khumjung village, or the Khunde village.
Hiking to any of these places will take around 2 to 3 hours. The most popular acclimatization hike is Namche Everest View Hotel. The hotel is famous for the wonderful panorama of snow giants including Mt. Everest.
At Khumjung village, there is a beautiful monastery. The monastery preserves the skull of a Yeti. Khunde village is popular for the Khunde hospital. Sir Edmund Hillary established the hospital there in 1966.
Visit these places and return to Namche. Overnight in Namche.
Day 06: Trek to Tengboche Monastery
Maximum Altitude: 3860 meters
Trek Duration: 5 hours
Read: Namche to Tengboche
The trail from Namche to Sansa is flat. There are a few steps going up and down at some places. From Sansa, the trail to Gokyo Lake trek and Everest Base Camp trek separates. We will take the trail to the right. The trail now descends to the Dudh Kosi river in Pungi Thenga.
We will cross a suspension bridge over the river. There is a checkpoint where you have to verify your trekking permit. From there, we will begin to climb a steep ascent for three hours to Tengboche.
At Tengboche, there is a beautiful monastery. The Tengboche monastery is the biggest monastery in Khumbu. Tengboche lies in the footstep of Mt. Thamserku. From there, a wonderful 360-degrees panorama of the gigantic Himalayas is also visible.
Overnight in Tengboche.
Day 07: Tengboche to Dingboche
Maximum Altitude: 4350 meters
Trek Duration: 5.30 hours
On this day, we will trek from Tengboche Monastery to Dingboche village. The trekking trail is amazing. You will be walking through some beautiful small villages at Pangboche and Solmari. Trekking through the scenic trail, you will reach Dingboche.
Dingboche is a beautiful village where people farm inside the fields surrounded by the walls of stone. There are few teahouses and lodges in Dingboche where you can stay overnight.
Day 08: Rest at Dingboche
Today is your second acclimatization day. For acclimatization, we will hike to a hill near the village. From the hill, you will see the amazing scenic views of the surrounding. After the hike, we will return to the Dingboche village. We will walk around the Dingboche village observing the lifestyles, traditions, and culture of the Sherpas.
Day 09: Dingboche to Lobuche
Maximum Altitude: 4910 meters
Trek Duration: 5 hours
Today, we will reach so close to 5000 meters at Lobuche. From Dingboche, we will head towards Lobuche through the terminal moraine of Khumbu Glacier. AHead, there are huge boulders that we will walkthrough.
The hikke is tough and gets even tougher as we trek up. However, the relishing mountain views will boost your energy and confidence to walk further.
There are lots of memorial stones of the trekkers and climbers who lost their lives while attempting to climb Everest. We will walk ahead to finally reach Lobuche.
At Lobuche, there are a few teahouses. Expect the accommodation to be basic there. Overnight there.
Day 10: Trek to Everest Base Camp. Back to Gorak Shep
Maximum Altitude: 5365 meters (Everest Base Camp)
Trek Duration: 8 hours
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After nine days of trekking through the incredible trekking trails of Everest, today, we will reach the Everest Base Camp. You should be very careful while trekking. You are above 5000 meters. At such an altitude. The risk of altitude sickness is high.
So, you must keep drinking plenty of water from time to time. Dehydrate your body. Walk slowly, you should not rush or hurry to reach there.
At a teahouse in Gorak Shep, we will leave our luggage. From there, we will hike to the base camp and explore around. Enjoy the blissful moment of standing at the base of Mt. Everest. You will see the incredible views of the Himalayas.
We will return from the base camp to Gorakshep. Overnight in Gorak Shep, 5180 meters.
Day 11: Hike up to Kalapattar. Trek back to Dzongla
Highest Altitude: 5545 meters (Kalapathar)
Trek Duration: 6 to 7 hours
We will hike to Kalapathar in the morning for wonderful sunrise views. The hike is tough, however, the “out of the world” view of sunrise over Mt. Everest seen from there compensate for all your fatigue.
Enjoy the views of Nuptse, Pumori, Chagatse, Lhotse, and the other Himalayas from there. From Kalapathar, we will descend down to Gorak Shep. From Gorak Shep, we will trek to Dzongla, 4620 meters.
Day 12: Dzongla to Thangna Via Cho La Pass
Maximum Altitude: 5420 meters
Trek Duration: 6 hours
We will walk through the arid valley and will begin to climb the steep uphill to Cho La pass. Climbing uphill, we will walk through the iced rocks along the Cho La glacier.
From the top os the Cho La pass, you will see incredible Himalayan vistas. Enjoy the moment before you start descending down to Phedi. From Phedi, we will trek to Thangna.
Thangna, 4650 meters, is a tiny settlement with few lodges. From Thangna, you will see a beautiful view of Machhermo peak.
Day 13: Thangna to Gokyo
Maximum Altitude: 4750 meters
Trek Duration: 6 hours
We will walk through a glacial trail to reach the Gokyo first lake. From there to Gokyo village, the trail is flat and easy. We will walk following the Dudhkosi river.
Gokyo village lies on the side of the Gokyo Third lake also called as Dudh Pokhari. Gokyo village is a small and beautiful one. We will explore around and stay overnight at a lodge in Gokyo village.
Day 14: Climb Gokyo Ri and trek to Machhermo
Maximum Altitude: 5483 meters
Trek Duration: 7 hours
Early in the morning, we will hike to Gokyo Ri. From Gokyo Ri, you will see a magnificent sunrise view. You will also see the majestic turquoise Gokyo lakes. You will see the summits of Everest, Lhotse, and Makalu so glorious!
From Gokyo Ri, we will descend to Gokyo village and will trek to Machhermo following the twirling Dudh Koshi. On the way, we will see some amazing pastoral landscapes.
Overnight in Macchermo, 4410 meters.
Day 15: Machhermo to Namche Bazaar
Highest Altitude: 4410 meters
Trek Duration: 5 hours
We will start trekking after having breakfast in Macchermo. From there, we will reach Phortse Tenga. The trail now passes through amazing forests of Rhododendron, Pine, and other trees.
Walking through the trail, we will walk a steep uphill to Monglo. From Monglo, the trail descends down slowly to the biggest settlement in Khumbu region, the Khumjung village. From Khumjung, Namche is close. The trail is easy.
Overnight in Namche Bazaar.
Day 16: Namche to Lukla
Highest Altitude: 3440 meters
Trek Duration: 9 hours
It’s your last day of trekking. You will have to walk spontaneously for nearly nine hours to reach from Namche to Lukla. The excitement of trekking back home is different. Enjoy walking over the amazing trekking trails.
Overnight in Lukla.
Day 17: Morning flight back to Kathmandu.
Via an early morning flight, we will fly from Lukla to Kathmandu airport. From the airport, we will drive you to your hotel. Overnight in Kathmandu.
Day 18: Departure.
Today is your last day in Nepal. Before two hours of your flight, we will drive you to the airport. From there, you will fly to your home. We wish to see you soon.
